Notre Dame social media reacts to CJ Carr being named the starting quarterback
The Michigan native beat out Kenny Minchey for the role, as the two battle through the spring until head coach Marcus Freeman had made a decision. He did say on Sunday that he would take into consideration who offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterback coach Gino Guidugli thought best fit the offense.
At the end of the day Carr was the choice, and while many didn't see it coming due to reports that Minchey looked better during camp, the Irish went with the younger option. There was no doubt that social media was going to react to the news, and here are some of the best comments shared by insiders and fans.
A bit surprising
The competition was fierce, and while it didn't seem like Carr would be the choice at times, he eventually was. It's a bit premature to suggest that Minchey would leave, especially since anything could happen during the season. Talia Baia has been all over training camp, so she would know it was a bit surprising.
JaDon Blair's father gives Minchey helpful advice
It's a family in South Bend, and that extends to the players families as well. Blair surely knows Minchey put his all into trying to win the starting job, and the elder Blair gives him some great advice. There's no need to get down on yourself, just get ready for the next opportunity.
Not a Michigan man
As The Athletic's Vannini points out, Carr is a Michigan legacy who didn't follow his grandfather to Ann Arbor. He would have had a shot to start there was well, since it looks like they'll be turning the offense to a true freshman. The Wolverines loss was clearly Notre Dame's gain, which stokes the rivalry fire a bit more.
Is this the appropriate meme?
I'm a big fan of Pickell, but I'm not sure this is such a crazy decision. Both quarterback had pro's and con's, but going with Carr's immense upside makes plenty of sense. There's schedule is manageable, and there's plenty of time for him to get acclimated to this level. However, if Pickell is saying this could be fun, then let's go.
Great work on the graphic
The graphic of the day, besides the actually announcement of course. The little details are fantastic, from the 'Freeman Film' to the 'manufacturers of Joe Montana and Brady Quinn'. You win the day Rational ND Fan.
Upside in Carr
It very much seemed like Freeman didn't want to play it safe, and went with upside in Carr. While Minchey still has all the traits you are looking for in a quarterback, in my eyes, the new starter has a certain flare about his game that elevates the players around him. That's something you just can't teach. And throws like that.
Minchey had a legit shot
While many thought that it was Carr's job to lose, Minchey sure didn't let that get in his way of impressive many people during the competition. I also believe that the coaching staff gave him a legit chance at winning the job, and he almost did it.
Thank you coach Freeman
Finishing with this great post, The 4 Horsemen Podcast shared a great post on the quarterback outlook. There was only going to be one starter, the other disappointed, who needs to continue to stay ready. The fact that Notre Dame was in this situation is a far cry from the Brian Kelly era, and Freeman deserves a ton of credit for reshaping the Irish roster.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
27 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Dru Smith on ‘great trajectory,' hopes to be ready for Heat camp after new deal
There have already been a few unfortunate setbacks in guard Dru Smith's career, but he knows how fortunate he is to be in his current position. After sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in December, the Miami Heat still kept him around on a two-way contract for the remainder of last season despite there being no salary cap penalty for swapping him out for a healthy player. Smith then became a restricted free agent this summer and continued to rehab with the Heat this offseason, but he wasn't eligible to return to Miami on a two-way contract because of NBA rules. So the Heat instead brought back Smith on a standard contract Saturday just one day after shedding forward Haywood Highsmith's expiring $5.6 million salary in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to create enough room under the luxury tax to re-sign Smith. Smith's new deal — the second standard NBA contract of his career — is worth $7.9 million over three years, with his first-year salary of $2.4 million fully guaranteed and the second and third years of the deal including conditional guarantees. 'It was obviously a little stressful and things like that,' Smith, 27, said Wednesday during a phone interview. 'I think any time, whenever you have nothing signed and nothing set in stone, I think it's just a little worrisome. But overall I think we love this organization and we're just excited to be able to be back and be a part of this.' Smith's new contract is further evidence of the Heat's belief in him, as he has been a part of the Heat's developmental program since he went undrafted out of Missouri in 2021. He has spent at least part of his first three NBA seasons with the Heat and is now on track to begin his fourth NBA season with Miami. 'I'm extremely appreciative of an organization that believes in me the way that they have up to this point,' said Smith, who has been waived by the Heat four different times before Miami has brought him back each time. 'But also I think, obviously, this hasn't been easy. There have been a lot of days where I've questioned whether this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I have amazing people around me.' Smith has spent much of the last two years rehabbing from significant setbacks, as he also sustained a knee injury in November 2023 that cut his 2023-24 season short before returning and then suffering a season-ending Achilles injury last December. But Smith hopes and expects to be ready for the start of training camp. He has already begun to take part in some contact work and is on track to begin participating in full five-on five action in the coming weeks. 'Honestly, it's all been going really well,' said Smith, with the Heat set to open training camp in six weeks on Sept. 30 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. 'I feel like I've been on a great trajectory as far as the rehab stuff goes. I've started to do some contact stuff now. I haven't jumped fully back into five on five. I would say probably here in the next few weeks or so. I think it's all just basically going to be how I respond to the more and more live sessions that I get in. 'I think the goal, obviously, is to be ready by camp. And I think that as of right now, with no setback, that's kind of what we're looking at.' Smith also hopes he can pick up where he left off just before he tore his Achilles eight months ago, as he had become an important part of the Heat's bench rotation last season before going down with a non-contact Achilles injury. Smith logged double-digit minutes in eight straight games before tearing his Achilles, establishing himself as a reliable and solid offensive option while also turning into a standout point-of-attack perimeter defender. In addition, he played the entire fourth quarter in five of the seven games leading up to his injury. 'I think more than anything what I learned is, obviously, that I can play at this level,' Smith said, looking back at that impressive stretch. 'For a full season, I really do believe I can help a team win games.' Smith averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per appearance while shooting 50.8% from the field and 53.3% from three-point range in 14 games (one start) for the Heat last season before being sidelined with the season-ending injury. 'I don't really see why not,' Smith said when asked whether he believes he'll be able to get back to his pre-injury form. 'I wouldn't say this has necessarily been any worse of a rehab than the ACL or anything like that. I think [Heat senior director of rehabilitation] Jeff [Ruiz], who I work with every day, I think he's done an incredible job. 'I don't see any reason why I can't get back to being myself. The few times that I have been on the floor, I feel really good. I feel like I'm moving well.' But as part of a Heat roster loaded with guards, finding consistent playing time won't be easy for Smith. Tyler Herro, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell are all expected to be ahead of Smith on the depth start to begin this upcoming season, and the Heat also used its first-round pick to draft guard Kasparas Jakucionis in June, is relying on guard Pelle Larsson to take on a bigger role in his second NBA season and still has Terry Rozier on its roster. Smith is up for the challenge, though. He has proven that during his winding and oftentimes difficult NBA journey. 'Honestly, the biggest challenge from this rehab specifically was just the mental part of it,' he said. 'Just really having to lean in on my faith and things like that and just understand for whatever reason, this is where my story was supposed to go. So just continuing to attack with a positive attitude. I think that was probably the toughest part because there are definitely days in there where it just seems like I've been rehabbing for two years at this point.' The Heat is expected to consider guard Jahmir Young for an Exhibit 10 contract, which essentially represents an invite to training camp and provides a financial incentive for that player to join the organization's G League affiliate. But a deal has not been signed yet, according to league sources. Young (6-foot-1 and 185 pounds), who closed last season on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, went undrafted out of Maryland in 2024. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from three-point range in 43 G League appearances last season. NBA teams are allowed to carry up to 21 players during the offseason and preseason (including up to three two-way contract players). Not including Young since he hasn't signed a deal yet, the Heat's preseason roster currently includes 17 players signed to contracts (including two-way contracts and Exhibit 10 deals).
Newsweek
28 minutes ago
- Newsweek
CJ Carr Gets Strong Warning After Winning Notre Dame QB Job
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ahead of the 2025 college football season, Notre Dame decided to name redshirt freshman CJ Carr their starting quarterback. However, On3's J.D. PicKell doesn't believe that the signal-caller battle in South Bend is over. Following a closely contested battle, Carr claimed the starting job over sophomore Kenny Minchey. However, if Carr wants to have a stranglehold on the starting job, PicKell believes that Week 1 against the Miami Hurricanes will be the test, so the young quarterback faces pressure to perform coming out of the gate. SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - APRIL 12: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws the ball during the 94th Annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 12, 2025... SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - APRIL 12: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws the ball during the 94th Annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 12, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. More Photo by"Let's say that CJ Carr goes out against Miami and doesn't look that awesome—throws a couple of picks," PicKell said on the latest episode of "The Hard Count with J.D. PicKell." "Let's say this: let's say Notre Dame goes into Miami and loses that football game. "This roster is far too talented to not be good enough at quarterback when it comes to what they're going to be the rest of 2025. This is a national-title-caliber roster. That's how they feel in South Bend." Read More: Notre Dame Gets Honest Take From CBS Sports Analyst on CJ Carr Decision Carr steps in for veteran quarterback Riley Leonard, who guided the Irish to last season's national championship game. As the young signal-caller takes over, a learning curve is expected. Still, with a roster built to win immediately and a tough schedule ahead, Carr will feel pressure to start strong and limit any early struggles under center. A shaky performance against Miami could raise doubts and allow Minchey to step in. Read More: Penn State's James Franklin Under Fire Heading into 2025 Season "If you don't have it 110 percent right at quarterback, I don't think you're in a position, if you're Marcus Freeman and that staff in South Bend, to just sit on your hands and say, 'Let's see how this thing goes,'" PicKell added. "I would not be shocked in the slightest if it takes the Miami game to solidify who your quarterback one is for Notre Dame... If CJ Carr doesn't stranglehold this QB1 job in Miami, I think this thing has still got some runway to it." For more on college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
The College Football Playoff announces new selection process that impacts Notre Dame
The College Football Playoff continues to tweak its formula, and on Wednesday it was announced that they will be changing how they 'assess schedule strength, and how teams perform against their schedule,' as reported by CBS Sports Brandon Marcello. The release goes on to say that more weight will be given to wins against 'strong opponents' which gives teams who have difficult schedules an advantage. The committee will add record strength as well, and they'll judge that by going 'beyond a team's schedule strength to assess how a team performed against that schedule.' That will be difficult in my eyes, as often times preseason polls are incorrect. It is great to see that they have come forward and let teams know that they'll give more credit to wins over good teams, and on the flip side, a bigger penalty for losses to bad teams. They also announced a factor that impacts Notre Dame greatly, as they addresses idle teams in the final week of the season. The committee stated 'that movement in the final weeks should evidence-based and did not recommend creating a formal policy prohibiting such movement.' Since the Irish aren't in a conference, they'll always be one of these teams that could move down without playing. While it doesn't force Notre Dame's hand, it's not the most encouraging part of these changes. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
